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2015-01-11

Studio Ghibli Castle of Cagliostro BD: Which Version Has Subtitles?

(UPDATE: Too many corrections were needed, so we're rewriting the entire post.)

There has been some confusion on the question of English-language subtitles on the Japanese Blu-Ray release of Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Some sources say yes, some say no. Fortunately, the experts have weighed in to settle the matter, once and for all.

First, we need to specify which Castle of Cagliostro BD we are talking about. Studio Ghibli released two separate versions: a single-disc release, with the same package design as their feature film library. The second release is included in the massive box set, "The Complete Works of Director Hayao Miyazaki." More notably, all films in the box set were given an all-new digital remaster, different from the masters used for the single Blu-Ray packages.

There are two Ghibli Blu-Rays of this movie. There's one that's part of
the Miyazaki collection and another that's just a standalone Ghibli ga
Ippai disc.

The Miyazaki collection version has zero extras and zero English. Nothing at all. But it does have the Remaster footage.

The
standalone Ghibli BD that came a couple months later (kinda fuzzy on
the release date) has neither of the English dubs on it, but it DOES
have a brand-new English subtitle track and a few extra features. The
subs are pretty good but they're a bit minimalist.

Much thanks to Reed for clearing that up. I read a reader review on YesAsia that boasted the single-disc Cagliostro included the 1980s Streamline Pictures dub, but no subtitles. It appears that person was incorrect. And online retailers often get these details wrong (since the appeal is only for importing fans). Much of the time, one has to wait until they hold the physical package in their hands to answer these questions.

For the North American market, Discotek's newly-released Castle of Cagliostro DVD includes the 1992 Streamline dub, two versions of the 2000 Manga Entertainment dub (the second being a "family friendly" edit that removes the unnecessary profanity), and the Japanese soundtrack with newly translated English subtitles. For Miyazaki and Lupin fans, this is the one to get.

8 comments:

This Blu-ray has English subs. They were added on to the Blu-ray at the last minute. The Cagliostro Blu-ray that came in the Japanese Miyazaki box set didn't have English subs. Check the cdjapan wbsite. This Blu ray also doesn't include any of the English dubs. I will be getting this Blu ray next week so I'll post back when I get it.

There are two Ghibli Blu-rays of this movie. There's one that's part of the Miyazaki collection and another that's just a standalone Ghibli ga Ippai disc.

The Miyazaki collection version has zero extras and zero English. Nothing at all. But it does have the Remaster footage.

The standalone Ghibli BD that came a couple months later (kinda fuzzy on the release date) has neither of the English dubs on it, but it DOES have a brand-new English subtitle track and a few extra features. The subs are pretty good but they're a bit minimalist.

Wow, they actually made new subs for the Japanese Blu-Ray. Hopefully they make new subs for Chie the Brat and the Anne of Green Gables movie if they are also released as Ghibli Ippai colection silhouettes Blu-Rays.

Daniel, the reviewer may have confused it with the Japanese Buena Vista DVD release from 2001 which DID include both the Streamline Pictures dub and English subtitles. However, the subtitles were basically useless as they were a transcription of that dub, converted from the booklet included in Toho's "Cagliostro" English-Language Version ("Eigoban") LaserDisc package. That script has several errors in it, and a corrected and tweaked version of it (though not 100% error-free, sorry) is included on the Discotek "Cagliostro" disc.

Yes, I suspected that might be true. By luck, I happen to have the 2001 Ghibli Cagliostro DVD, and played it on the desktop PC. I was surprised to see the Streamline Dub, along with a "dubtitle" of that track. Interesting backstory - I'd love to get my hands on the LaserDisc.

I'm sure your Cagliostro script is fantastic. If my Horus script could earn a passing grade, then yours will knock it outta the park.

Apparently it wasn't the reviewer's fault. I just checked that YesAsia listing and the review is actually a hold-over from that old DVD version. It's even dated 2007, which is long before this BD came out.

Just to add to the confusion a bit, I ordered and received the North American release Blu-ray set "The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki (Amazon Exclusive)" which includes Cagliostro English sub and dub. That said, there are 2 English sub tracks. One of the tracks makes sense and lines up fairly well with the dub. The other sub track looks like a direct translation and reads horribly.